The Melody Clouds had a young fan club cheering from the bleachers this morning in the AIG Gospel Tent. A row of fourth-graders in matching red T-shirts waved their hands in the air, stomped their feet and bobbed their heads along with the sharp-dressed singers offering praise up on stage.

One student was so moved by the music she got up and did a little jig, while her friends snapped pictures with their cell phones.

The fourth-graders from Ben Franklin Elementary were some of the 2,300 local school children invited to enjoy the fest for free, thanks to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Foundation. The Ben Franklin teachers said their school has received the free tickets for years and they were allowed to bring the students to the fest today until 1 p.m. School buses drop the students off and pick them up right at the gate. (Lucky kids! no parking hassles.)